European Commission sues UK over polluted air

Time to choke on writs. Last week, the European Commission began legal action against the UK, which has failed to cut nitrogen dioxide smog to meet limits set by the European Union. Several other countries could also be taken to court.

Many other countries have broken the pollution limits, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen, Denmark. The European Commission (EC) will target them next. "We have opened pilot investigations in France, Denmark, Sweden, Romania and the Netherlands," says an EC spokesperson. "Infringement proceedings are likely to follow."

The UK is being sued first because it is the furthest behind. EU member nations were meant to meet the targets by 2010. Those failing were given an extra 5 years' grace to comply, but the UK will still miss the target by some margin.

"The UK is the only member state not expecting to comply with the limit values before 2025, in London, and 2020 at the earliest for 15 other zones in the UK," says the EC spokesperson. "In terms of population exposure, London is the biggest of the EU's cities concerned with NO2 emissions, and the worst in terms of the compliance gap."

Cut the smog

The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is currently considering what measures to take, according to a DEFRA spokesperson. They have two months to respond to the EC. "We want to work with [the European Commission] to be compliant," says the spokesperson.

The EEA says that the best policies are those that limit traffic. As well as cutting NO2 emissions, this also reduces other harmful pollutants, such as particulate matter.

"Reducing traffic and the number of vehicles is the most effective, alongside low-emission zones, increased use of public transport, promoting cycling and retro-fitting cars with anti-exhaust filters," says Alberto González Ortiz of the EEA.

DEFRA says the UK is already funding such measures, including a £900-million scheme for the uptake of ultra-low and zero-emission technologies for vehicles, £2 billion for electrification of the rail network, and £107 million to encourage cycling.

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